The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback room, led by Shedeur Sanders, has high expectations in 2024.
There are high expectations for the Colorado Buffaloes following a disappointing 2023 season. The Buffaloes have the talent to earn their first bowl game since 2016, and it all starts with the signal caller Shedeur Sanders. Today, we will look at Colorado’s quarterback room as a whole, and who could be in line to start for the Buffs in 2025 as Sanders will most likely declare for the NFL Draft.
Compared to last season, the Buffs should feel way more confident about their depth behind Sanders.
Shedeur Sanders
Sanders, a former four-star recruit, played his first two seasons of college football at Jackson State before following his dad to Colorado.
Entering his second season with the Buffaloes, Sanders is coming off of a strong season. He threw for 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Sanders finished ninth nationally in completion percentage (69.3%), 10th in passing yards average (293.6 ypg), and fourth in interception percentage (0.7%). The star quarterback set Colorado’s single-game passing record in his Buffs debut, piling up 510 yards at TCU. He had 348 passing yards or more in five games and had multiple touchdown passes seven times while throwing just one interception in his final six contests.
Now, Sanders will enter his first full season with coordinator Pat Shurmur. Shurmur took over play calling for the Buffaloes offense in November of 2023. Sanders must ultimately do his part to limit sacks and hits after taking 52 and being pressured on 39.9 percent of his drop backs.
If Sanders stays healthy and continues to progress, he should be one of the top quarterbacks on NFL draft boards for 2025.
Ryan Staub
Redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit Ryan Staub will be Sanders backup in 2024. Staub appeared in three games throughout the 2023 season while starting one. Staub started Colorado’s final game of the 2o23 season, where he completed 17 of 24 passes for 195 yards. He also completed his first career touchdown to Travis Hunter.
Staub played at West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch, California under coach Chris Varner. He played three seasons on varsity, starting as a junior and senior. As an upperclassman, he was 355-of-600 (.592) passing for 5,422 yards and 58 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions, leading West Ranch to a 19-4 record as a starter. He also ran the ball 66 times for 687 yards and 10 touchdowns with one 100-yard game.
Staub finished his career with five 300-yard passing games (one 400) and four games with five-plus touchdown passes (one with six). If Sanders has to miss some time due to injury, Colorado fans should feel confident with Staub stepping in as the Buff’s signal caller.
Walter Taylor III
Taylor joins Colorado as a sophomore with three years of eligibility left. The former three-star recruit played his first season in the NCAA with Vanderbilt before transferring to Colorado. 247 Sports lists Taylor as a three-star transfer recruit.
Last season, Taylor appeared in five games for the Commodores while registering five completions for 44 yards and 30 rushing attempts for 103 yards and a touchdown. Taylor looks to earn the QB3 role on Colorado’s depth chart.
Destin Wade
Wade joins Colorado as a sophomore after redshirting his freshman year with the Kentucky Wildcats last season. The former four-star recruit completed 16 of his 30 passes for 99 yards in his Kentucky debut and starting debut against Iowa in the TransPerfect Music Bowl. Wade also recorded 17 rushing attempts for a net 23 yards.
